Pools tips and best bets for weekend of January 12-13

Ten draws: Crystal Palace v Watford, Tottenham v Manchester United, West Ham v Arsenal, Hull v Sheffield Wednesday, Millwall v Blackburn, Wigan v Aston Villa, Walsall v Scunthorpe, Cheltenham v Tranmere, Crewe v Newport, Oldham v Forest Green.

Best draws: Crystal Palace v Watford, Wigan v Aston Villa, Cheltenham v Tranmere, Crewe v Newport, Oldham v Forest Green.

Best weekend away bets: Liverpool, Swansea, Charlton, Doncaster, Morton, Clyde.

Best weekend home bets: Chelsea, Coventry, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Sunderland, Grimsby, Mansfield, Notts County, Stevenage, Partick.

Pick of the draws: Watford have gained recent creditable draws at Everton (2-2) and Bournemouth (3-3) and are on course for another at Crystal Palace, who are six points clear of the Premier League drop zone but have won only twice at home this season while scoring only five goals. Wigan, lying 20th in the Championship, are in terrible form but they have a fighting chance against Aston Villa, whose progress has stalled. Cheltenham's home record in League Two is nothing to shout about but they may get something from the visit of Tranmere, who will struggle to recover from the 7-0 home thrashing by Tottenham in the FA Cup last weekend. Newport's 2-1 victory over Premier League team Leicester in the FA Cup will probably kick-start their League Two season but Crewe, while feeble away, are a tougher proposition at home, as they showed when they beat leaders Lincoln last month. Oldham's FA Cup giant-killing act at Fulham last Sunday was one of the results of the weekend but they face a Forest Green side who have won seven away games.

Away days: Liverpool, who have suffered consecutive losses, will be disappointed not to return to winning ways at mid-table Brighton. Swansea, who rose to the occasion by knocking Aston Villa out of the FA Cup last Saturday, are on for a repeat victory at Preston, whose climb up the Championship table has been halted. Charlton, who occupy the League One play-off places, will be confident of success at Shrewsbury. Doncaster, fresh from their FA Cup third-round triumph at Preston, will feel just as upbeat travelling to Wycombe. Morton, fourth in the Scottish Championship, are worth backing at lowly Alloa and Clyde, third in Scottish League Two, are likely to prevail at struggling Berwick.

Homes sweet homes: I'm taking promotion-chasing Sunderland in League One to end Luton's remarkable unbeaten streak and to leapfrog them in the table. Luton, who this week lost their manager, Nathan Jones, to Stoke, are unbeaten in the league since October 13. Notts County, the League Two's bottom club, showed signs of a revival by drawing 3-3 at Colchester last Saturday and can improve on that result by defeating Cambridge, who are five points better off but brittle on their travels. Partick, bottom of the Scottish Championship, are worth a punt against Falkirk, who are just above them.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of January 5-6

Ten draws: Bournemouth v Brighton, Middlesbrough v Peterborough, Millwall v Hull, Preston v Doncaster, Sheffield Wednesday v Luton, Cambridge v Stevenage, Crawley v Cheltenham, Macclesfield v Swindon, Dunfermline v Alloa, Bromley v AFC Fylde.

Best draws: Middlesbrough v Peterborough, Millwall v Hull, Preston v Doncaster, Sheffield Wednesday v Luton, Crawley v Cheltenham.

Best weekend away bets: Ipswich, Cardiff, Stoke, Burton, Bury, Barrow.

Best weekend home bets: Brentford, Derby, Newcastle, Norwich, Queens Park Rangers, West Bromwich, West Ham, Colchester, Ayr, Dagenham & Redbridge.

Pick of the draws: It's FA Cup third round weekend and Middlesbrough's stuttering form in the Championship should encourage League One Peterborough, who are often at their best in knockout competitions. Championship sides Millwall (19th) and Hull (13th), who meet at the new Den, excelled over the Christmas holiday period. Both gained maximum points from three matches, Hull beating Bolton 6-0 at home and winning 2-0 away at Leeds. A replay is the likeliest outcome. I'm tipping free-scoring Doncaster, of League One, to force a stalemate at Championship team Preston and Luton, second in the table and unbeaten in 13 games, to do the same at Sheffield Wednesday, who have appointed Steve Bruce as manager. Cheltenham are showing the best form of the relegation-threatened clubs in League Two and can share the spoils at Crawley.

Away days: Ipswich, who are rock bottom of the Championship, will be relieved to have a break from league football and I believe they'll take advantage of Accrington's slide down League One. Premier League strugglers Cardiff have just one away victory but I'll be surprised if they don't add to that at Gillingham, who are finding life difficult in League One. Stoke have disappointed in the Championship this season but they can make some amends by winning at Shrewsbury, who are in the lower half of League One. Outside the FA Cup, League Cup semi-finalists Burton, but mid-table in League One, are worth a punt at Rochdale, who are terrible at home. Bury, one of the form teams of League Two, will feel confident at lowly Yeovil and fast-improving Barrow, of the National League, are recommended at Havant & Waterlooville.

Homes sweet homes: Promotion-seeking Derby, from the Championship, can make it an early FA Cup exit for Southampton, who will probably be more concerned at preserving their Premier League status. The progress of Steve McLaren's Queens Park Rangers seems to have gone unnoticed and I'm backing them to knock out Championship leaders Leeds, who have lost their past two games. Dagenham & Redbridge, who have moved well clear of the National League relegation zone, are worth a wager against Boreham Wood, who are just above them.


Pools info: Three of my best five draws were correct last weekend: Preston v Aston Villa, Walsall v Luton and Cheltenham v Forest Green.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Dec 29-30

Ten draws: Leicester v Cardiff, Norwich v Derby, Preston v Aston Villa, Accrington v Peterborough, Coventry v Southend, Gillingham v Doncaster, Rochdale v Bradford City, Walsall v Luton, Cheltenham v Forest Green, Hamilton v Motherwell.

Best draws: Preston v Aston Villa, Accrington v Peterborough, Coventry v Southend, Walsall v Luton, Cheltenham v Forest Green.

Best weekend away bets: West Ham, Blackpool, Wycombe, Lincoln, Bury, Oldham.

Best weekend home bets: Fulham, Watford, Birmingham, Bristol City, Millwall, Oxford, Sunderland, Carlisle, Crewe, Newport.

Pick of the draws: Aston Villa's habit of leaking Championship goals - five at home to Nottingham Forest, three at home to Leeds - may deny them victory at Preston, who are fairly solid at Deepdale. Accrington emerged from a dodgy spell in League One with a 3-0 win at Plymouth last Saturday but they are bound to be tested more by Peterborough, who have chalked up seven away victories this season. Coventry, who are on a downward spiral, could find beating mid-table Southend beyond them. I've a hunch that second-placed Luton's incredible run - nine wins and a draw from their past 10 matches - will be checked by Walsall, who came away from Peterborough with a creditable draw last weekend. Lowly Cheltenham in League Two had the better of a goalless draw at Swindon last Saturday and can share the points again when they host Forest Green.

Away days: West Ham were unlucky in losing at home to Watford last Saturday and I think they'll recover quickly at struggling Burnley on Sunday. In League One, bottom of the table Wimbledon's miserable home record will encourage Blackpool, who aim to contest the play-off places. The progress of promoted Wycombe has been one of the features of the season and they will fancy themselves at relegation-threatened Scunthorpe. League Two leaders Lincoln must rate as an away banker at Cambridge while fast-improving Bury look a good thing at second last Notts County. Oldham are recommended at Port Vale, who are up and down like a yo-yo.

Homes sweet homes: It's been a miserable campaign for Fulham but they should get a lift from the visit of Huddersfield, whose Premier League form is even worse. Millwall, in the Championship drop zone, are worth a punt against Nottingham Forest who appear to be flattered by their seventh position.  Crewe, who won 1-0 at Stevenage in October, have the chance of a rare League Two double against their inconsistent opponents from Hertfordshire.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Dec 22-23

Ten draws: Bournemouth v Brighton, Everton v Tottenham, Huddersfield v Southampton, Hull v Swansea, Nottingham Forest v Queens Park Rangers, Reading v Middlesbrough, Portsmouth v Sunderland, Bury v Tranmere, Grimsby v Notts County, Morecambe v Cambridge.

Best draws: Bournemouth v Brighton, Everton v Tottenham, Hull v Swansea, Portsmouth v Sunderland, Grimsby v Notts County.

Best weekend away bets: Manchester United, Sheffield United, West Bromwich, Preston, Carlisle, Kilmarnock.

Best weekend home bets: Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Stoke, Charlton, Plymouth, Southend, Forest Green, Stevenage.


Pick of the draws: Bournemouth have lost their mojo recently, dropping into the bottom half of the Premier League, and although Brighton are weak away from home, they can come away with a point. Tottenham are the only team in the top four divisions not to have drawn a league game - a record that could end at Goodison Park on Sunday as Everton will be eager to make amends for some disappointing results. Swansea are aiming to make the Championship play-offs but won't find it easy at Hull, who have moved five points clear of the relegation zone. Portsmouth v Sunderland is a clash between the League One promotion favourites (Pompey are first, Sunderland are third) and I don't expect either side to give much away. Notts County, second last in League Two, beat Tranmere 3-2 at home last Saturday to boost their chances of avoiding the drop, so don't be surprised if they share the spoils at improving Grimsby.

Away days: Expect a Man Utd resurgence now that manager Jose Mourinho has departed. They are strongly recommended at struggling Cardiff. Although Ipswich won at home for the first time in the Championship this season last weekend, I cannot see them repeating the trick against fourth-placed Sheffield United, who have six away victories to their credit. West Bromwich Albion appear to be the team most likely to catch front-runners Leeds and Norwich and they should have too much for Rotherham. On-form Preston are worth a wager at off-colour Sheffield Wednesday and Carlisle, fresh from their 4-0 trouncing of Colchester in League Two, won't fear a journey to Crawley. Kilmarnock, one of five sides in the mix for the Scottish Premiership title, must be fancied at lowly Hamilton.

Homes sweet homes: High-scoring Aston Villa are well worth a punt against Championship leaders Leeds on Sunday. Villa's results haven't quite matched their performances lately but they look capable of climbing into the play-off places. Plymouth, fourth from bottom of League One, are also worth backing against Accrington, who are slipping down the table and lost 3-0 at Southend last Saturday. League Two Stevenage can beat the best when they are on song and I believe they'll end Mansfield's unbeaten away record.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Dec 15-16

Ten draws: Huddersfield v Newcastle, Liverpool v Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers v Middlesbrough, Barnsley v Portsmouth, Oxford v Blackpool, Southend v Accrington, Carlisle v Colchester, Forest Green v Mansfield, Macclesfield v Crawley, Newport v MK Dons.

Best draws: Huddersfield v Newcastle, Queens Park Rangers v Middlesbrough, Barnsley v Portsmouth, Oxford v Blackpool, Macclesfield v Crawley.

Best weekend away bets: Chelsea, West Ham, Birmingham, Leeds, Tranmere, Aberdeen.

Best weekend home bets: Manchester City, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Ipswich, Swansea, Doncaster, Sunderland, Cambridge, Northampton, Rangers.

Pick of the draws: Huddersfield have scored only 10 Premier League goals this season while their opponents on Saturday, Newcastle, have managed just 13. It all points to this relegation clash being a stalemate and probably a goalless one. Middlesbrough have gone off the boil in the Championship recently and I can't see them getting more than a point at QPR, whose dreadful start to the season is well behind them. Although League One leaders Portsmouth suffered only their second defeat of the season in midweek - 2-1 at home to Charlton - they have enough about them to share the spoils at high-scoring Barnsley. With their creditable 2-2 draw at Peterborough last Saturday, Oxford moved five points clear of the League One drop zone. I reckon they'll gain their first home draw of the season against Blackpool, who are challenging for the play-off places. Macclesfield, now managed by former England defender Sol Campbell, are six points from safety at the foot of League Two but can take advantage of Crawley's bad away record.

Away days: Chelsea received an enormous boost by inflicting Manchester City's first Premier League loss of the season last weekend. I fancy them to follow that up by winning at Brighton. Consecutive victories over Newcastle (3-0) and Crystal Palace (3-2) have put an extra spring in West Ham's step and I'm backing them to make it a hat-trick at bottom club Fulham, who can't stop leaking goals. I feel that Birmingham's home defeat by Bristol City last Saturday was just a blip and they can return to winning ways at Blackburn. Leeds, second in the Championship, look a sure thing at Bolton, who are second last. In League Two I expect Tranmere to pile more misery on relegation-threatened Notts County and believe Aberdeen will assert their superiority over St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.

Homes sweet homes: Ipswich, rock bottom in the Championship and without a home win all season, can rectify that by beating Wigan, who have lost eight out of 10 away games. I'm tipping Cambridge, third last in League Two, to leap-frog ailing Yeovil by beating them on Saturday and improving Northampton are well worth a punt against inconsistent Stevenage.

Pools info: Sheffield United v West Bromwich (No 20 on coupon) and Livingston v Hearts (47) have been brought forward to Friday and are therefore void.

Betting info: With Sunderland's match at Accrington abandoned last Saturday, four of my five away selections were correct: Wolves, Doncaster, Northampton and Forest Green. I was also one of the few pundits to tip Chelsea to beat the previously undefeated Manchester City.